German-israel Diplomatic Ties Established; Notes to Be Published Today

May 13, 1965

JERUSALEM (May. 12)

An exchange of notes establishing diplomatic relations between West Germany and Israel will be announced in a joint communique tonight, it was indicated here today.

The text of the note and the contents of an exchange of letters between Chancellor Ludwig Erhard and Premier Levi Eshkol will be published tomorrow. It was indicated that the communique will be brief and that the letters will refer to the background of the formalization of relations.

No candidate has yet been chosen for the post of Israel’s First Ambassador to West Germany. It was assumed that this matter would be taken up by Premier Eshkol and Mrs. Golda Meir, Israel’s Foreign Minister, within two weeks.

Dr. Felix Shinnar, head of the Israel Mission in Cologne, is winding up his affairs in that post and returning to Israel next week. Additional talks regarding West German economic aid to Israel will be resumed later through regular diplomatic channels.